The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
Lists and Awards Selected for the Winter 2011-2012 Kids’ Indie Next List
Reviews Kirkus, Starred Review. “Cassia and Ky grapple with secrets, wilderness and the tumultuous meanings of love in the second installment of this addictive, layered dystopic trilogy… Although two-boys-one-girl triangles run rife in this genre, Condie’s is complicated and particularly human, involving real emotional scars…Both rich and easy to digest, this will leave fans hungry for the third book.”
School Library Journal. “Told in alternating chapters from their points of view, the book gives readers full access to the hearts and minds of two memorable characters. Their needs, love, and internal conflicts are palpable. Their voices are distinct and authentic, and the writing is often poetic.”
VOYA. “This is more than just a placeholder between the first and last parts of a trilogy… Condie effectively sets the stage for the final chapter in Cassia’s story by leaving the reader hanging at the end of the book. Matched fans will devour this book and be eager for the concluding one.”
Publisher’s Weekly. “…vivid, poetic writing… Condie immerses readers in her characters’ yearnings and hopes.”
B Publication Tracking Assignment
1) Choose a publication to follow, such as a new book or non-print item, that would be appropriate for a school library collection. It must be published in 2011.
Condie, Allyson Braithwaite. Crossed. New York: Dutton Books, 2011. Print.
Seventeen-year-old Cassia sacrifices everything and heads to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, where she is confronted with shocking revelations about Society and the promise of rebellion. The book’s release date was November 1, 2011.
2) Create a timeline or time-log of promotion references for the title you chose. Time-logs should include references with complete citations. Reference sources could include: ads, reviews, interviews, newscasts, radio plug, flyers, press releases, coverage in a conference, district/school list, Internet "hit", articles, bookstore advertisement or display, booklist/best seller.
Crossed Publication Tracking Calendar - this is a private Google Calendar and only available through this link. If you have trouble reaching it, please let me know.
Condie, Allyson Braithwaite. Crossed. New York: Dutton Books, 2011. Print.
"Crossed (Matched, #2) by Ally Condie - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists ." Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. American Library Association, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9794437-crossed>.
Graser, Marc . "Disney falls for trilogy - Entertainment News, Top News, Media - Variety." Entertainment news, film reviews, awards, film festivals, box office, entertainment industry conferences - Variety. Reed Elsevier Inc. , 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118024169?refCatId=4076>.
"The-Society.NET • Your number one 24/7 source for the 'Matched' book trilogy!." The-Society.NET • Your number one 24/7 source for the 'Matched' book trilogy!. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://the-society.net/>.
3. Write a 150-200 word review of the item. (3 points)
Crossed is the second in Ally Condie’s dystopian fiction series Matched. In it she continues the story of Cassia, a seventeen year old girl who has decided that living within the confines of the Society may not be for her. Her conflicted feelings for two boys, Ky and Zander, are the keys to unlocking her abilities, to choose, to trust and, ultimately, to survive are all tested on her journey to find Ky in the Outer Provinces. Cassia’s story encourages thought provoking questions about freedom of choice but the pace of the story is often slow. The climax is difficult to identify and the conclusion not as intriguing as that in the first book. Condie uses two different points of view, Cassia’s and Ky’s, to clarify conflicts and though the switch from one point of view to another isn’t always smooth, the strategy is sound. Still a good read, Crossed suffers from “middle book of a trilogy” syndrome. Ally Condie is quoted as saying this book is closest to her heart of the seven books she has written but the reader may feel they are just being led to the final book due out 2012. Interest level - YA
4. Write a 1-2 page reflection on the implications of your findings. Make sure you refer to the publication cycle, and its impact in your process and conclusions. (5 points)
Following a book from conception to publication and through marketing before and after publication is a daunting task with a book like Ally Condie’s Crossed. Crossed is the second book in Ms. Condie’s Matched Trilogy and because of that there were several complicated issues to deal with.
Ally Condie is not a new author although the hype that was promulgated when the first book in the trilogy was accepted for publication made many readers think she was. She had already been writing and publishing with smaller local publishers for several years. There are seven published books available. When she began the process to write Crossed she was immersed in the marketing for Matched. The publisher, Dutton of Penguin Group, created a full marketing plan that introduced the book through mainstream and independence bookstores, review sources and an endless list of online resources. The theme of the trilogy fit many of the currently most popular genres available to teens. The film rights to Matched were sold to Disney even before the book was published. All of these factors changed the way the second book was published.
Crossed did not receive the same marketing focus that the first book had. Instead, the publisher relied on the author to do the vast majority of the marketing through her online blog, an Online Blog Tour where she acts as a guest blogger on several other writers and reviewers blogs and through in person appearances promoting both books. Ms. Condie spent much of the year between the publication of the first book and the publication of the second book attending workshops, conferences, book signings and school visits. She acted as the keynote speaker or presenter at many of the events she attended. She participated in a several book tours with other authors and ended her year promoting Crossed in a book tour organized by Penguin. She was a very busy lady. She did a thorough job of maintaining a strong internet presence by blogging at least twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursday. She documented much of her interaction with her publisher. She shares her first views of the cover and the excitement she experienced when she received the first advanced reader copies. Many of her posts were duplicated on the Penguin Teen site. She also notes when positive reviews are published.
The impact her promotions had on tracking the publication led to some conclusions I didn’t expect to make. I anticipated that this second installment of the trilogy would make tracking its publication easy because there was so much to find for the first book. I was right but not right at the same time. There was almost too much to follow. Although much of the information I found was not directly from the publisher, there was an amazing amount of talk about the book. When looking at her publicist’s and agent’s published material, there was very little mention of Ms. Condie or her books. Most of it came from Ms. Condie and, indirectly, her publisher, much of it was biased. When the reviews began to come in from readers, there were not as positive as those received from the “official” reviewers. After reading the book, I agreed more with the reviews from blogs by avid readers and independent reviewers than I did the ones from published sources. In the past I have read blog reviews but didn’t usually give them much credence and seldom used those reviews to choose a title over an officially published review from sources like School Library Journal. Although I probably won’t change that practice completely, this publication tracking assignment has encouraged me to be less critical of the blog reviews. I’ll have to tread a fine line between the bias public reviews and the fan-based reviews but the blogged reviews from long-standing online sources will be more important in making decisions on future purchase.
The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
Lists and Awards
Selected for the Winter 2011-2012 Kids’ Indie Next List
Reviews
Kirkus, Starred Review. “Cassia and Ky grapple with secrets, wilderness and the tumultuous meanings of love in the second installment of this addictive, layered dystopic trilogy… Although two-boys-one-girl triangles run rife in this genre, Condie’s is complicated and particularly human, involving real emotional scars…Both rich and easy to digest, this will leave fans hungry for the third book.”
School Library Journal. “Told in alternating chapters from their points of view, the book gives readers full access to the hearts and minds of two memorable characters. Their needs, love, and internal conflicts are palpable. Their voices are distinct and authentic, and the writing is often poetic.”
VOYA. “This is more than just a placeholder between the first and last parts of a trilogy… Condie effectively sets the stage for the final chapter in Cassia’s story by leaving the reader hanging at the end of the book. Matched fans will devour this book and be eager for the concluding one.”
Publisher’s Weekly. “…vivid, poetic writing… Condie immerses readers in her characters’ yearnings and hopes.”
B Publication Tracking Assignment
Condie, Allyson Braithwaite. Crossed. New York: Dutton Books, 2011. Print.
Seventeen-year-old Cassia sacrifices everything and heads to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, where she is confronted with shocking revelations about Society and the promise of rebellion. The book’s release date was November 1, 2011.
Crossed Publication Tracking Glogster
Crossed Publication Tracking Calendar - this is a private Google Calendar and only available through this link. If you have trouble reaching it, please let me know.
References
"Ally Condie talks about Matched and the sequel Crossed (video) - YouTube ." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pjB5cIDeueI>.
"PenguinGroupUSA's Channel - YouTube ." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . Penquin Group (USA), 1 Nov. 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/user/PenguinGroupUSA?feature=watch#p/search/1/HMZjjgyQkvE>.
"Ally Condie - About Ally Condie - Penguin Group (USA)." US Book Shop and Online Bookstore - Penguin Group (USA). Penquin Group (USA), n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. <http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000076728,00.html>.
"BARNES & NOBLE | Crossed (Matched Trilogy Series #2) by Ally Condie, Penguin Young Readers Group | Hardcover, NOOK Book (eBook)." Barnes & Noble - Books, Textbooks, eBooks, Toys, Games, DVDs and More. Barnes & Noble.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crossed-ally-condie/1030802840>.
"Book Festival - Utah Humanities Council." Utah Humanities Council. Utah Humanities Council, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.utahhumanities.org/BookFestival.htm>.
"CROSSED by Ally CondieKirkus Book Reviews." Kirkus Book Reviews. Kirkus Reviews, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ally-condie/crossed-condie/>.
Condie, Allyson. "Crossed ||Allyson Condie." Allyson Condie N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.allysoncondie.com/2010/12/crossed/>.
Condie, Allyson Braithwaite. Crossed. New York: Dutton Books, 2011. Print.
"Crossed (Matched, #2) by Ally Condie - Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists ." Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. American Library Association, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9794437-crossed>.
Graser, Marc . "Disney falls for trilogy - Entertainment News, Top News, Media - Variety." Entertainment news, film reviews, awards, film festivals, box office, entertainment industry conferences - Variety. Reed Elsevier Inc. , 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118024169?refCatId=4076>.
Lee, Stephan. "'Crossed' exclusive excerpt: Read the 'Matched' sequel here first! | Shelf Life | EW.com." Book news, reviews, trends, and talk | Shelf Life | EW.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/09/13/crossed-excerpt-exclusive-first-two-chapters/>. "Matched by Ally Condie." Matched by Ally Condie. Penquin Group (USA), n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. <http://matched-book.com>.
Ng, Shannon. "Photos from Barnes & Noble, Pasadena and Redlands locations." 2011. JPG file.
"Penguin Teen - Wall." Facebook. Facebook, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.facebook.com/penguinteenbooks?sk=wall&filter=2>.
Revis, Beth. "Beth Revis: CROSSED Interview and Giveaway!." Beth Revis Blog. N.p., 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. <http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2011/11/crossed-interview-and-giveaway.html>.
Roback, Diane. "BEA 2011: A Bountiful Fall for Children's Books." Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News | Publishers Weekly. PWxyz, LLC, 26 May 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/47428-bea-2011-a-bountiful-fall-for-children-s-books.html>.
"Roundup « Someday My Printz Will Come." School Library Journal Blogs. N.p., 7 Nov. 2011. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/printzblog/2011/11/08/roundup/#more-353>.
St. George News. "St. George Book Festival Returns October 26-29 | | St. George News | STGnews.comSt. George News | STGnews.com." St. George Utah Deals | St. George Utah Events | St. George Utah Info. N.p., 19 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2011. <http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2011/10/19/st-george-book-festival-returns-october-26-29>.
"The-Society.NET • Your number one 24/7 source for the 'Matched' book trilogy!." The-Society.NET • Your number one 24/7 source for the 'Matched' book trilogy!. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011. <http://the-society.net/>.
"Title Detail." TITLEWAVE . Follett Library Resources, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. <http://titlewave.com/search?SID=4f0bcf3a0cc67e708dd1f906c59535aa>.
Crossed is the second in Ally Condie’s dystopian fiction series Matched. In it she continues the story of Cassia, a seventeen year old girl who has decided that living within the confines of the Society may not be for her. Her conflicted feelings for two boys, Ky and Zander, are the keys to unlocking her abilities, to choose, to trust and, ultimately, to survive are all tested on her journey to find Ky in the Outer Provinces.
Cassia’s story encourages thought provoking questions about freedom of choice but the pace of the story is often slow. The climax is difficult to identify and the conclusion not as intriguing as that in the first book. Condie uses two different points of view, Cassia’s and Ky’s, to clarify conflicts and though the switch from one point of view to another isn’t always smooth, the strategy is sound. Still a good read, Crossed suffers from “middle book of a trilogy” syndrome. Ally Condie is quoted as saying this book is closest to her heart of the seven books she has written but the reader may feel they are just being led to the final book due out 2012.
Interest level - YA
Following a book from conception to publication and through marketing before and after publication is a daunting task with a book like Ally Condie’s Crossed. Crossed is the second book in Ms. Condie’s Matched Trilogy and because of that there were several complicated issues to deal with.
Ally Condie is not a new author although the hype that was promulgated when the first book in the trilogy was accepted for publication made many readers think she was. She had already been writing and publishing with smaller local publishers for several years. There are seven published books available. When she began the process to write Crossed she was immersed in the marketing for Matched. The publisher, Dutton of Penguin Group, created a full marketing plan that introduced the book through mainstream and independence bookstores, review sources and an endless list of online resources. The theme of the trilogy fit many of the currently most popular genres available to teens. The film rights to Matched were sold to Disney even before the book was published. All of these factors changed the way the second book was published.
Crossed did not receive the same marketing focus that the first book had. Instead, the publisher relied on the author to do the vast majority of the marketing through her online blog, an Online Blog Tour where she acts as a guest blogger on several other writers and reviewers blogs and through in person appearances promoting both books. Ms. Condie spent much of the year between the publication of the first book and the publication of the second book attending workshops, conferences, book signings and school visits. She acted as the keynote speaker or presenter at many of the events she attended. She participated in a several book tours with other authors and ended her year promoting Crossed in a book tour organized by Penguin. She was a very busy lady. She did a thorough job of maintaining a strong internet presence by blogging at least twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursday. She documented much of her interaction with her publisher. She shares her first views of the cover and the excitement she experienced when she received the first advanced reader copies. Many of her posts were duplicated on the Penguin Teen site. She also notes when positive reviews are published.
The impact her promotions had on tracking the publication led to some conclusions I didn’t expect to make. I anticipated that this second installment of the trilogy would make tracking its publication easy because there was so much to find for the first book. I was right but not right at the same time. There was almost too much to follow. Although much of the information I found was not directly from the publisher, there was an amazing amount of talk about the book. When looking at her publicist’s and agent’s published material, there was very little mention of Ms. Condie or her books. Most of it came from Ms. Condie and, indirectly, her publisher, much of it was biased. When the reviews began to come in from readers, there were not as positive as those received from the “official” reviewers. After reading the book, I agreed more with the reviews from blogs by avid readers and independent reviewers than I did the ones from published sources. In the past I have read blog reviews but didn’t usually give them much credence and seldom used those reviews to choose a title over an officially published review from sources like School Library Journal. Although I probably won’t change that practice completely, this publication tracking assignment has encouraged me to be less critical of the blog reviews. I’ll have to tread a fine line between the bias public reviews and the fan-based reviews but the blogged reviews from long-standing online sources will be more important in making decisions on future purchase.